Phil Campbell’s Colton Vickery gets off a shot with Red Bay’s Isaiah Jackson and Keenan Sparks defending. Photo by Keith Ledbetter.

By Keith Ledbetter

For the FCT

Hitting crucial foul shots in the final seconds gave the Phil Campbell Bobcat boys a 45-42 area win over Red Bay last Friday night.

After trailing 10-6 at the end of the first quarter, and 22-17 at halftime, Red Bay went on a nine point unanswered scoring run to take a 26-24 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Tigers ended up with a 32-27 advantage over the Bobcats going in the final quarter but couldn’t sink needed free throws to extend their lead.

Phil Campbell on the other hand tossed in 11 from the line in the fourth period.

The Bobcats’ Ryan Saint started the fourth quarter off with a three pointer to cut Red Bay’s lead down to two. While Isaiah Jackson added a two-point basket for Red Bay. Foul shots by Phil Campbell’s Colton Vickery and Noah Williams left the Bobcast trailing 34-33.

With just over 2:30 remaining in the game, Vickery added a shot off the glass to cut Red Bay’s lead again to one point, leaving the Bobcats trailing by a score of 38-37.

Phil Campbell’s Skyler Tackett connected on two free throws to give the Bobcats a 42-41 advantage with just 40 seconds remaining in the game.

Vickery rounded out the points from the line to give the Bobcats the win.

“This was a great win,” Bobcats head boys’ coach Russ O’Rear said.

“This was a hard fought game by both teams. We were down by five at the beginning of the fourth quarter so I’m proud of our guys for hanging in there. They didn’t panic and just kept playing.”

Vickery led Phil Campbell with 13 points, Bailey Motts scored nine, Ryan saint added seven, Thomas Reed scored six, Skler Tackett and Nathan Duncan scored four each, and Noah Williams added two.

Barry Reach scored 11 for Red Bay, Nick Thorn added eight, Dylan Grissom scored six, Isaiah Jackson and Tate Ozbirn had five each, Kyle Fuller netted four, and Fred Nethery added two.